Anglophiles are well aware that HBO’s Little Britain USA, CBS’ Worst Week and Eleventh Hour, and ABC’s Life on Mars are based on British shows. These transatlantic crossings are none too bad (I’m iffy on Eleventh, but I’ll admit Mars and Britain are fab). Yet, I implore (no, I order) you to watch the U.K. originals as well. Seriously, you’ll thank me. Especially if you’ve never experienced the sweet goodness of John Simm and Philip Glenister’s acting in Mars or the clutch-your-belly funny of Sarah Alexander and Ben Miller’s chemistry in The Worst Week of My Life and The Worst Christmas of My Life.
So, here’s a list of what each series is all about, where/when you can catch marathons of them on BBC America, and whether or not they’re available on U.S. DVD. Check out the clips below (and after the jump) and tell me what you think.
Life on Mars
Manchester detective Sam Tyler (Simm) gets hit by a car in 2006 and wakes up in 1973. Airs: Sunday, October 5th beginning at 1pm on BBC America. On US DVD: No.
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Eleventh Hour
Patrick Stewart is Professor Ian Hood, a gifted scientist who is soimportant (and addicted to trouble) he has his owngovernment-appointment bodyguard (Ugly Betty’s Ashley Jensen) to follow him around the country while he solves freaky crimes involving cloning and viral warfare. Airs: Sunday, October 12th at 1pm on BBC America. On U.S. DVD: Yes.
The Worst Week of My Life/Worst Christmas of My Life
Bumbling publisher Howard Steel (Miller) tries to win over his in-laws in the days before his wedding in Week, and then attempts to give them the perfect holidays as his heavily pregnant new wife (Alexander) goes into labor in Christmas. Airs: Sunday, October 19th beginning at 5pm on BBC America. On U.S. DVD: Week: Yes. Christmas: No.
Little Britain
A sketch show from twisted British comedy duo Matt Lucas and DavidWalliams (who also star in the American version). Meet Bubbles, Carol,and Daffyd. If you don’t speak their catchphrases already (“Computersays no”), you will soon. Airs: Sunday, October 19th beginning at 3pm on BBC America. On U.S. DVD: Yes
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Great post! I’ve already seen the original “Life on Mars” and “Little Britain,” both of which are fabulous, but I’ll have to check out “Eleventh Hour.”
Any info on where/when I can see the original Aussie version of “Kath and Kim?” Many thanks!
Can’t wait to see John Simm as something other than “the Master”.
Life on Mars and Worst Week/Christmas are so great. I never really thought the UK version of Little Brittan was that funny and the new HBO version is really pretty much the same.
I LOVED the original Life of Mars. Does anyone else watch it and think that John Simm’s Sam Tyler was the inspiration for Simon Pegg’s Nick Angel in Hot Fuzz?
Zet – if you love John Simm, check out State of Play (awesome in so many ways) and he was also in 24 Hour Party People.
BBC’s Life of Mars is excellent. John Simm and Philip Glenister are both brilliant.
Too bad we can’t get The Mighty Boosh & The IT Crowd here in the States. They are both top-notch (and they both feature Noel Fielding!).
The original Life on Mars is exceptional. My bank account has not been the same since finding out about the brilliant and lovely John Simm. Simm and Glenister were great together in Life on Mars as well as the equally outstanding miniseries State of Play.
Love love love love love Life on Mars. John Simm is beyond brilliant.
Love Bits and Bobs!
Can’t wait to see the new Life on Mars. I really enjoyed the Brit version.
The IT Crowd is playing on IFC right now! Tuesday nights. Check it out.
TiVo is programmed and ready to go! Anyone else catch Lost in Austen that just aired on ITV (before it got yanked, unceremoniously, off YouTube)? Really entertaining!
The original Life on Mars is one of my favorite series ever. (Last 10 minutes of the last episode were amazing!) I’m worried that a 22 episode (or more) version will stretch out the main story too much, though — wish HBO or Showtime was doing the remake.
Oh, and thanks for the 11th Hour and State of Play recommendations, folks. Ashes to Ashes, the Life on Mars spin-off, is pretty good. (A present-day female colleague of Sam Tyler goes back to the 80’s, and works with Gene Hunt and the rest of the crew.)
What about Australian shows??? Kath and Kim… and I hope McLeod’s Daughters has a remake done here too!!!
You can see the original Kath and Kim on surfthechannel.com
I’m not sure how much I like Little Britain USA… I don’t find the sketches to be humorous…
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I’d also like to add my recommendation that everyone go out and get acquainted with the truly brilliant John Simm and Philip Glenister in both Life on Mars and State of Play. Awesome awesome pair.
You know, just when the British were finally getting fed up with hearing the same once funny lines over and over again, Little Britain has to go and get launched in the US and we’re stuck with it all over again. If only everyone would realise it’s just a blatant rip-off of the much funnier and darker League of Gentleman, we’d all be happier.
Hi there
I’m a Brit here in the UK, and I have to say that the IT crowd is not at all funny, but if you like good comedy and you get the chance to see ‘The Smoking Room’ over there then give it a try. You won’t be disappointed..
Simon
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